Hong Kong racing chief hails Ka Ying Rising’s ‘phenomenal’ win, city’s world-leader status
Dominant victory in world’s richest race on grass confirms Hong Kong horse as the best sprinter there is
Hong Kong’s Ka Ying Rising cemented his place as racing’s best sprinter with a dominant victory in the world’s richest turf race, The Everest, in Sydney on Saturday, a moment trainer David Hayes called “the biggest thrill in my life”.
The 5-year-old star became the first overseas horse to claim the title, earning A$7 million (HK$35 million) in little more than the minute it took to cover the 1,200 metres at Royal Randwick.
His 14th consecutive victory, but a first outside Hong Kong, took Ka Ying Rising’s career prize money past HK$100 million, and jockey Zac Purton described the Group One triumph as his “single biggest moment”.
Afterwards, owner Leung Shek-kong suggested his horse, who is expected to fly back to Hong Kong early next week, would defend The Everest crown in 12 months’ time.
Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO, called it an “absolutely phenomenal” win, which confirmed the horse’s status “as a global champion”.
“Ka Ying Rising’s triumph in Australia has solidified his status as a world-class sprinter and reaffirmed Hong Kong’s leading position on the international racing stage,” Engelbrecht-Bresges added, while also pointing to the dominance of Romantic Warrior.